Page:The Responsibilities of the American Youth.pdf/9

Rh God so long conceal all knowledge of the new world from the old? And why he placed this grand division of the globe so remote from the others? These are no idle nor unimportant questions; but when considered in relation to the purposes of God in reference to the interest of humanity, lead us to the contemplation of the wisdom and goodness of Him who alone is wise in council and excellent in knowledge. The reasons for what is implied in the questions just proposed, are now, at this period of the world’s history, becoming very apparent and lucid. And I see not how any can fail in perceiving them. In answer to the second question, we say, that it is one of the distinctive features in the administration of God’s moral government, that he prepares for all events and contingencies, and furnishes things just when they are needed; thus doing for man, ever since the creation of the world, what he did for man in its creation: that is, providing for the necessities of man, as in the course of time and in the progress of things necessities may arise. And in looking back along the track of time, guided by the lights of history, we see that this has ever been the uniform course of procedure on the part of God to man. Do man’s increasing wants and expanding necessities demand new and additional means of supply? In the providence of Him who suffers no sparrow to fall unnoticed, those wants are supplied. And when advancing science, art and commerce require new inventions and improvements, to increase the comfort, convenience and welfare of nations, God sends into the world the qualified minds to furnish the requisite means. And when the peculiar condition of society and the general necessities of the world require a new or an additional continent, then that which was created from the beginning and kept in reserve for this very emergency, is in due time disclosed to the rest of the world. And when it is discovered, the wonder with every one is why it was never discovered nor thought of before. It was not needed before, nor wanted until the time it was discovered, and that it was particularly wanted when discovered, is most easy to prove. For the Reformation, the first fruits of the doctrine of personal responsibility, commenced soon after the discovery of America, and which awakened the spirit of liberty, civil and religious, and which was followed by persecution, civil and religious,